Roujin Z

The Z Project was intended to give the new generation a break from caring for the old. The original intenion was to create a machine to care for them without any intervention. At first glance, it looked like an excellent plan, and many of the younger generation approved of its application. But when old Mr. Takazawa become the test subject for the Z-001 machine, Haruko questioned both the tactics of the hospital and the moral implications of the machine. This is just the beginning, as Haruko has not just the hospital, but the odds against her. But then, she discovers an odd quirk about the machine: it uses a biochip, and it eventually acquires a mind of its own!

(Source: AnimeNfo)

Mihashi, Haruko Main

Yokoyama, Chisa Japanese

Terada, Takashi Main

Ogawa, Shinji Japanese

Takazawa, Kijuro Main

Matsumura, Hikojiro Japanese

Oe, Nobuko Supporting

Satou, Chie Japanese

Old Man B Supporting

Matsumura, Hikojiro Japanese

Old Man C Supporting

Aono, Takeshi Japanese

Old Man A Supporting

Saikachi, Ryuuji Japanese

Z Computer Supporting

Saito, Sho Japanese

Maneuver Commander Supporting

Ogata, Kenichi Japanese

Nurse Supporting

Asano, Noriko Japanese

Kitakubo, Hiroyuki Director, Storyboard

Hontani, Toshiaki Episode Director, Storyboard

Otomo, Katsuhiro Script, Mechanical Design, Key Animation, Original Creator

Tanaka, Tatsuyuki Storyboard, Layout

Reviews

Sep 22, 2025

immosha

Recommended

Part social commentary, part slapstick comedy, Roujin Z is a well-animated product of its time that has held up surprisingly well into the 2020s.

I will preface this review by saying I grew up watching the Kochikame 90s style of slapstick comedy - it's certainly not for everyone, but I will say Roujin Z does pull this type of comedy off extremely well. The 90s were Japan's first foray into lost decades, and this movie, being made in '91, kicked off the angst of these times by addressing clearly the primary terror gripping the Japanese youth - what are we going to do about our ... aging boomer population? Now obviously that problem has only gotten worse over the past three lost decades, but watching this movie in 2025 does make you question: why has Japanese animated media completely abandoned addressing societal concerns head-on, and instead made blockbuster series and movies disseminating escapist media instead? Shinzo Abe could have died for AI-powered nursing homes, but instead he gave us Darling in the Franxx?

Jokes aside, the animation and direction of this movie is certainly nothing to scoff at. While not quite at the level of Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo puts in significant work adapting fluid mecha animation and amazing character animations to deliver the slapstick interactions driving the chemistry of this movie. Small movements like putting pennies into pay phones or patients throwing books all give a sense of humanity to the various characters - reinforcing the theme of humanity over automation this movie delivers.

My only complaint is the weak soundtrack that could have benefited from more whimsy and some better sound mixing in places - not at all a detriment of the movie, but would have tied up the tone and transitions more coherently

The plot itself was nice, and I think putting a old man yearning for his wife was a great selection for this - I wasn't sure whether to expect a serious mecha show or a full slapstick romp, but I am glad I left with my heart feeling a little fuller. In a time where we worry about rogue AI, our relinquishing of our very souls to statistical models, and the intrusion of military-grade software in our daily lives... perhaps remembering why we live life is what we need in our movies today.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Oct 31, 2019

bullitbaby

Mixed Feelings

Hey folks, another down to earth review from bullitbaby.

So ya say ya wanna blow off 90 minutes and have littlweto show for it but a silly smile on your face and a giggle in your chest. THEN YOUVE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!
This movie comes with tongue in cheek futurism and a surprise ending that i loved. Why? Because its perfectly silly and a GREAT LAUGH.
No spoilers, cmon lets waste 90 minutes.

This is classic early 90s anime designed with a relatively simple plot common in the 90s. What wwas it? Computers will someday do everything for us but it will end ... in disaster when the machines take over.

What was 1991?
Teminator 2 (the long awaited)
WWW made available to everyone in august 91
year of 386 and debut of 486
Color computers for apple system 7 and adobe photoshop 2.0 release changes graphic arts forever and direct to plate and press printing on apple send desktop publishing into full overdrive.
Yahoo is #1 search engine
Visual basic for microsoft is released soon to become one of the most popular ways to hack microsoft products thru a simple email or word document with VB Attachment. Just previewing the email or opening the word document would infect you. In 7 more years you will release windows98 dubbed the worst operating system in history by your own engineers. It still retains this honor in 2019.

Anyway, 91 was time when it was very common to envision the imminent takeover of computers eventually becoming thinking machines aka terminator 2.

This movie is a funny little ditty about a computerized bed that completely meets all the needs of the elderly including pooping and urinating (both are VACUUMED out with a bed attachment. (This made me genuinely laugh).

And if you keep a lighthearted feeling about wasting 90 minutes to smile giggle and laugh a little at this ssilly little spoof on futurism, youll enjoy it. Yes its about the “danger of autonomous machines”. Agggggghhhh. (Tongue in cheek).

Yea, this movie barely even takes its own plot seriously as this poor budding AI robot bed stumbles around like an infant learning to walk....

.....but weighs like pfffft 5000 lbs at least and crushes everything in its path (laughing all the way).....but not intentionally.....NO NO NO...no more than a 4 year old trying to climb up onto a priceless antique table knocking over a priceless vase, dumping flower water all over the table and carpet and then sitting there and playing in the water as the parents stare in disbelief or maybe begin to cry hahaha. 🙀🙀🙀😁😁😁

Desiring anything else of this movie would be a waste of time, and watching it is also a waste of time but the good kind of wasted time, with a smile and a laugh.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jan 20, 2022

mkat

Not Recommended

I quite liked the first quarter or third of it. Then...it devolved. It seemed to have been written by a horny 14 year old boy which took away from it quite a bit. The sexual jokes became tiresome. I actually liked the main character as she was the only likable one imo. I also liked the animation. It was also pretty funny seeing the old men hack the system. But, it was poor plot development and tiresome humour which killed this movie especially because it was dealing with a very serious topic. I don't know what this film was going for... absurd thriller comedy? It ... certainly had potential but blundered it. This film definitely derailed and wasn't or rather couldn't be saved.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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	Poll: Roujin Z Episode 1 Discussion MaxCrazy7 - Dec 10, 2009	35 replies	by Estefan »» Aug 12, 8:12 AM
	Anyone know where the original 4:3 aspect ratio version is? Effete - Oct 25, 2020	5 replies	by Effete »» Dec 24, 2023 11:32 AM
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	Song request AbyssOfMemories - Aug 20, 2020	1 replies	by AbyssOfMemories »» Nov 25, 2020 1:49 AM
	The Black Dot wrrlykam - Sep 18, 2009	4 replies	by removed-user »» Jan 20, 2020 6:57 PM

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